Life Kit Going beyond 'sorry for your loss' when a friend is grieving
24 snips
May 5, 2026 
Psychologist and grief therapist Mikael Harris, musician Avi Wisnia, and journalist Julia Furlan explore how to truly show up for someone in mourning. They talk about naming the person who died, avoiding hollow platitudes, offering practical help like meals or chores, and staying in touch long after the funeral.
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The Unsent Care Package That Became A Lesson
- Julia Furlan kept an unsent care package in her dresser after her friend's mother died, showing how grief support often stalls from awkwardness and perfectionism.
- The bag held avocado socks, seeds, a mud mask, and a card, and became her example of what not to do.
Bring Up The Person They Lost
- Bring up the loss instead of avoiding it, because supporting grief means witnessing it rather than trying to fix it.
- Mikael Harris says the grieving person is already thinking about their loved one, and Avi Wisnia wants to keep hearing memories of his brother and father.
Witnessing Matters More Than Fully Understanding
- Witnessing grief does not require full understanding; it means naming what you can see and making space for complicated feelings.
- Mikael Harris prefers I can imagine how hard this is, and Julia Furlan notes some losses carry trauma or unresolved relationships.
